A museum curator was found tied to a chair with his mouth taped shut. A priceless golden scarab was missing from its velvet pedestal. When police untied him, he frantically wrote on a pad: 'A masked man broke in at midnight and robbed me!' Detective Fox examined the ropes, untied him, and arrested the curator for insurance fraud. What gave him away?
The knots were tied from the front
It is physically impossible for a person to tightly bind their own hands behind their back and secure complex knots. The curator tied himself up to stage the robbery.
About this riddle
Detective riddles are tiny mysteries. Look for the detail in the story that does not fit; it is usually the clue that solves the case.
Difficulty: Easy. More like this: Detective riddles with answers or try Truth & Lie Island for a different kind of puzzle.
More detective riddles
Three kids race to build the tallest mitten tower. Ida finished before Omar. Omar finished before Kai. Who finished last?
A rare manuscript was stolen from the university library. The thief left behind a muddy boot print on the white marble floor. Three professors had muddy boots: Professor Plum, Professor Green, and Professor Mustard. However, Professor Plum was in a wheelchair, Professor Green had been bedridden with a broken leg for a week, and Professor Mustard was out of the country. Yet none of them were the thief. How is this possible?
Detective Vance found the victim slumped over a wooden desk with a freshly written suicide note. The ink was still wet to the touch. Vance immediately arrested the butler for murder. How did he know the note was a forgery?
Detective Reed found a coded diary next to a poisoned diplomat. The killer had torn out every page except for the ones containing the months July, June, and May. Reed smiled and checked flight logs for a specific tropical island. Why?
A famous pianist was found murdered in his soundproof studio. The sheet music on the stand was smeared with fresh coffee. The housekeeper swore she brought him coffee at 8:00 AM and found him dead at 9:00 AM. Detective Cole checked the security log and arrested the housekeeper for perjury. Why?
A priceless golden chalice vanished from a locked monastery vault. The Abbot claimed only he and the treasurer possessed keys. The treasurer was found tied up in the chapel. The Abbot claimed he found him there. Detective Gray noticed the treasurer's wristwatch was ticking loudly, but the time displayed was 3:15, while the grand monastery clock on the wall struck 6:00. Gray arrested the Abbot. Why?

